Why do people insist on calling Father Christmas, the Dutch word for St Nicholas (Santa Claus) in England?
Due to the fact that Christmas is the reinvention of Yuletide a pagan celebration, the character of Father Christmas can be traced to the old Pagan God of the north, called Odin or Wodin. At Yuletide the Vikings and Pagan Saxons Jute’s and Angles believed that when they fell asleep, Odin or Wodin came through the hole in the roof of the great hall (a primitive chimney) and if the people had left a tankard of sacred mead and some food for their ethereal guest, then Odin-Wodin would grant them good luck for the following year. The other name for Odin-Wodin was the All Father, hence the Father of yuletide, or Father Christmas. Our ancient pagan beliefs are still evident in our culture, as each day of the week is named after the old Gods. Monday is named after the moon, Tuesday after Twi, Wednesday after Woden, Thursday after Thor, Friday after Frigg (Odin’s-Wodins wife) Saturday after Saturn and Sunday after the sun.
